I thought you might be interested to see just one example of why the Fight4thePJM campaign seems to go on and on ... and on ... and on ...

I have received many letters like this over the last three and a half years. It took months to set up a meeting with Derek Twigg, the last Defence Minister. Our aim was to circumvent the civil servants who inevitably intercept our mail, and to state our case man to man. At the end of the meeting Derek Twigg was convinced he was hearing the truth for the first time and promised his support.

We thought we had made significant progress but, as soon as any Minister supports us, he or she is removed. It happened to Don Touhig and his successor Tom Watson. It happened to Ian Pearson, and to his colleague Dr Kim Howells - a staunch and influential supporter of our cause in Parliament while still a Minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In this latest example, even Mr Twigg's intended recipient, Meg Munn, has been removed from the Foreign Office.

While I was away on holiday (when the reshuffle news was announced), Paul Alders took the time and trouble to write to say thanks and farewell to Derek Twigg. This is Derek's reply (which Paul has posted elsewhere on the Forum) and it underlines the value of talking face to face with Ministers, thus avoiding the civil servants who otherwise would intercept our correspondence and corrupt what we say before providing their own special version of events. Derek gave us a fair hearing, which is all we ever wanted. Our case was heard, considered, and accepted. He wrote:

"Dear Paul,

Thank you for your e mail and your kind comments, it is much appreciated.

It has been an honour and a privilege to work with our outstanding Armed Forces, their families and Veterans, it has been the best job I have had.

I can assure you that I will continue to support your campaign and wish you well.

Best wishes

Derek Twigg"

It takes a long time to build that level of rapport. And it could be soul-destroying to see it lost for the umpteenth time. It's hard to start again ... and again ...and again ...

But start again we have. Even as we speak, letters to the new incumbents are awaiting Monday's post. There are powerful forces lined up against veterans' issues such as our fight for PJMers, but we shall not give up. Never.

All the best,

Barry

_________________BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Sat Oct 18, 2008 3:33 pm

John Cooper

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 2158
Location: Suffolk

With you shoulder to shoulder Barry, make no mistake about that.

What a lot of folks might not know [and yes it does appear very quiet on the Western Front as we have very little truck with the 'suits' these days] is that every day, weekends as well as weekdays and bank holidays there is always something in the melting pot. We have the evidence for justice in the Right to Wear the PJM, it is that the Ministers of The Crown and The ICO and a few others, have yet to overturn the suits obstinacy, but be assured IT WILL BE ACHIEVED!

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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:38 pm

BarryF

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 2721
Location: Berkshire, United Kingdom

John Cooper wrote:

With you shoulder to shoulder Barry, make no mistake about that.

About that, John, there has never been any doubt.

What readers may not be aware of are your numerous and ongoing battles with civil servants on behalf of (ex)servicemen and women, and PJMers. These are fights that are necessarily fought alone. They are the hardest. No acknowledgements. Noone to help carry the burden (bergen?). No 'medals'.

For nobody knows.

But they will - one day.

Barry

_________________BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:50 pm

Semengo13

Joined: 13 Feb 2006
Posts: 442
Location: York

Will we give up? Never!

Shoulder to shoulder Barry and all the way, for as long as it takes.

There can be no timescale in achieving what is right and fair.

The sooner those who stand accused realise this, the sooner we can "fall out" and stand down.

G'Day Gents, You guys have put up a fight that is well admired here in Australia. We've watched the pathetic antics of those petty bureaucrats and all I can say is that they have made the British 'honours' system look stupid, out-dated. They need to be made to get real before they bring more shame on your country and more ridicule on your monarchy. "Keep at'em" is your watchword. Brit grit. All the best from Oz.

Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:16 pm

John Cooper

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 2158
Location: Suffolk

Bonzer, welcome to the forum

Well said that man, from an insider we are completely perplexed by our Civil Servants actions, but what it must seem like to you guys outside Britain is something else, only Whitehall can make a farce out of a simple act...........

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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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Sun Oct 19, 2008 1:04 pm

mcdangle

Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 1027
Location: Scotland

Re: Shoulder to shoulder

bonzer wrote:

G'Day Gents, You guys have put up a fight that is well admired here in Australia. We've watched the pathetic antics of those petty bureaucrats and all I can say is that they have made the British 'honours' system look stupid, out-dated. They need to be made to get real before they bring more shame on your country and more ridicule on your monarchy. "Keep at'em" is your watchword. Brit grit. All the best from Oz.

Hi bonzer,
Yes, the civil servants of our country have brought shame on Britain and more ridicule to our monarchy. What is most irritating is that everyone througout the world can see this in the petty non-wear rule of the PJM, yet those who can rectify it are refusing to do so through arrogance and inability to recognise the danger posed to our way of life by an unelected committee which acts in secret and is responsible to no-one. This must be changed and our democracy restored.
Thanks for your support and 'awrabest to all in Oz from Scotland'.